Garden City Truck Accident Lawyer

In the heart of Finney County, Garden City sees its fair share of large trucks. Busy roadways like highways 400, 83, and 156 bring semi-trucks and other cargo vehicles through our city every day, and with these large trucks comes a certain amount of danger.

We’ve all been there, driving in a smaller car next to or immediately around an 18-wheeler. A sense of nervousness sets in, and we fear that the trucker can’t see us or may suddenly move into our lane, pushing us into the concrete barrier or oncoming traffic. This fear may seem silly to some drivers, but to others, these fears are completely warranted.

According to 2021 crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 55% of fatal large truck crashes occurred in rural areas, and 78% of truck crashes occurred on weekdays. The data also shows that a total of 87 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in Kansas alone during 2021.

If you or someone you know has been injured or involved in a vehicle collision with a large truck, a qualified Garden City truck accident lawyer from Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC is ready to take your case. We understand how destructive accidents with trucks can be, and we will fight with you for the maximum compensation the law allows.

How Large Truck Collisions Occur

While most vehicle accidents occur due to human error, sometimes, that may not be the case. These are some of the most common causes of large truck crashes our office sees:

• Truckers driving too fast (in general or just too fast for the road or weather conditions)
• Truckers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Fatigued truck drivers
• Distracted truck drivers
• Inexperienced or improperly trained truck drivers
• Poorly maintained trucks or trailers
• Overloaded or improperly loaded trailers
• Tire or brake defects (which commonly cause rear-end collisions or roll-overs)

As you can see, there can be any number of causes for a truck to be involved in a collision, but regardless of the cause, the outcome is often severe and devastating.

Injuries Caused by Semi-Trucks

Any vehicle crash may cause serious injuries and damage, but a crash involving a large truck has a much greater probability, unfortunately, often leading to the death of the other driver involved. Injuries commonly occurring in the aftermath of truck accidents are:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bruises and lacerations
• Fractured or broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Amputations or paralysis
• Death

Due to the large size of 18-wheelers and the weight of the loads they carry, it’s no wonder that the injuries other drivers sustain in accidents with large trucks are consistently more severe and deadly.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Tractor-Trailer Crash?

When you get into an accident with a large truck, you may think it’s an easy open-shut case against the truck driver. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, more than one person or entity can be held responsible for the collision that caused your injuries and damage. Those may be, but are not limited to, the following:

• Truck driver
• Trucking company
• Owner of the truck (if it’s neither the driver nor the company)
• Those responsible for loading and securing the truck’s cargo (if the cargo was the cause)
• Truck manufacturer (if a defect is found to be the cause of the crash)
• Another driver (if another driver’s actions caused the truck driver to react, resulting in the crash)

Our experienced attorneys at Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC will look at all the evidence available relating to your case to help determine who on the above-mentioned list may be held liable for your accident.

Compensation You May Receive

As your case progresses, your Garden City truck accident lawyer will seek compensation for any and all injuries and damages you may have received due to the negligence of the responsible party. Usually, both economic (financial) and non-economic (non-financial) compensation will be awarded to the victim(s). In some cases, if gross negligence is proven, punitive damages may also be awarded.

Compensation often awarded in truck accident claims is usually one or more of the following:

• Medical expenses (including doctor’s visits, medications, medical devices, etc.)
• Loss of income (including loss of future income if the victim of the accident is deceased)
• Therapy or rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Property damage
• Funeral and burial expenses

Legal Help Is Available

Crashes involving large trucks are often worse than those involving other smaller cars. As such, the aftermath is traumatizing, and sometimes, even the idea of pursuing any kind of legal action can be a daunting task for victims or their families.

Contact our office for your free consultation, and you’ll see how our legal team can help you here or anywhere in the Sunflower State. At Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC, we understand what you’ve been through, and we want you to know that we’re here to help you seek compensation for your losses. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to speak with a Garden City truck accident lawyer today.